South Africa to launch electronic entry permit system in September 2025

From September 2025, South Africa will implement an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for tourists requiring a visa. The new digital tool will simplify the visa documentation process, speed up the application processing, and enhance border control. Initially, the ETA will only be operational for citizens of countries with a visa regime, entering the country through international airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa, Leon Schreiber, emphasized that the system will be expanded in the future. In the future, obtaining an ETA may become mandatory for a larger number of visa categories, as well as for entry through other points of entry. The minister stated that a list of nationalities that will require an electronic permit will be published closer to the system launch date.

At the moment, travelers from countries with a visa-free regime, including citizens of the EU, UK, USA, South Korea, Japan, and several other states, are exempt from the need to obtain an ETA to enter South Africa.

The South African authorities have not yet provided a definitive answer on whether the new system will be mandatory for all categories of travelers, including those who previously entered without a visa.